Mexico secure top spot in Group B of 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship

Mexico overcame a stubborn Honduras side to top Group B ©Getty Images

Mexico earned top spot in Group B of the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship after overcoming 10-man Honduras 2-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.

Both teams had already secured their places in the semi-final stage of the tournament prior to the match, but with United States having played superbly to win Group A both teams were eager to earn another victory to avoid a last-four tie with the hosts and set up an arguably easier game against Canada.

The tie began disastrously for Honduras after Allans Vargas was sent off after just two minutes, after being deemed to have kicked out at Mexican forward Marco Bueno, meaning he will be missing from the team when they bid to secure an Olympic qualification berth.

From the subsequent free-kick Raul Lopez opened the scoring after cleverly firing his shot underneath the jumping wall and into the net.

Lopez went close to doubling his tally with another right foot effort which crashed against the crossbar before bouncing clear to the relief of the Honduran team, who were able to reach half-time only one goal in arrears.

Having reached the break still in the contest, a buoyed Honduras came out for the second half determined to hit Mexico on the counter-attack and after several attempts their efforts eventually paid off in the 57th minute.

Oscar Salas led a break before producing an excellent through ball for Alberth Elis, who took the ball in his stride before hammering a shot beyond Gibran Laiud to level the game despite his team being a man light.

Haiti and Costa Rica played out a 1-1 draw in their dead rubber ©Getty Images

However, Mexico regained their lead five minutes later as Erick Torres was found unmarked in the box from a low cross and he took a touch in front of goal before rolling the ball beyond Honduras’ goalkeeper Harold Fonseca.

It proved enough for the London 2012 gold medallists to finish first in the Group and set up the tie against Canada, while Honduras’ hopes of a third consecutive appearance in the Olympic tournament will depend on them overcoming the United States.

Both Costa Rica and Haiti would end the group stage without a victory to their credit after they played out a 1-1 draw.

Haiti had taken the lead shortly after half-time after a well-worked free-kick routine ended with Paulson Pierre curling into the net, but their advantage was wiped out nine minutes from the final whistle as Dylan Flores hammered a right foot volley past Luis Valendi Odelus.

The result saw both teams end with just one point from their three matches, but Haiti would finish third in the group having conceded fewer goals in their defeats to Mexico and Honduras.